Munoz, Mitsui help Cougars topple Timber Rattlers

Appleton. WI - A start to a seven-game road trip for the Cougars (21-19) saw them beat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (19-22) by a score of 3-1. Joe Munoz homered and Trevor Mitsui had an RBI double.

Similar to yesterday's 10-0 win, the Cougars offense got going early. With the speedy Galli Cribbs on base, Josh Anderson's fly to left dropped in for a double and established a 1-0 Cougars advantage.

Working against former reliever, David Lucroy (1-3), the Cougars hit a home run for the second game in a row. The fourth inning solo shot was slugged by Joe Munoz, his second of the season, team's tenth.

It did not hurt to have a solid pitching start from Justin Donatella (5-1). Leading the club in victories, Donatella also is one of the best in the league in fewest base runners and walks per nine innings, as well as ERA (1.44).

The Cougars starting hurler had a tough couple of final innings but ended with a final line of five and one-third innings, five hits, one run, and five strikeouts next to just two walks.

Donatella exited in the sixth inning with two runners on and one out for Ryan Burr. Masterfully, the Arizona State product waded out of the jam with no damage done.

And the Cougars injected another run to their lead with Trevor Mitsui's RBI base hit of Jason Morozowski who had tallied his third triple of 2016.

With the Cougars leading 3-1, Galli Cribbs athletically hauled in a fantastic, extra-base hit saving grab, preventing any chance of a Timber Rattlers surge in the seventh inning.

The game ended by a 3-1 score as the Cougars' Justin Donatella grabbed the victory, David Lucroy suffered the loss, and Cameron Gann notched his seventh save.